Outlander Sport Falls Short

We really want to like the new-for-'11 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport cross/utility vehicle, which after all comes from the same folks who make the raucously fun Lancer Evolution.

Known elsewhere as the RVR and shorter than the 7-passenger Outlander, the 5-passenger Outlander Sport boasts fuel-saving technologies, roominess, crisp handling and some cool design cues.

But little CUVs are becoming as common as muck. In some ways, they are the stereotypical compact car for the 21st century with their underpowered engines packaged in an underwhelming design, yet oh-so tantalizingly affordable to own.

A decade ago, the small CUV segment included just two players, the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Toyota RAV4. Today, according to Ward's data, the segment has swelled to 11 entries.

Deliveries of the pocket-sized cargo haulers have more than doubled, from 145,773 in 2000 to 399,794 in 2007, the last big sales year in the U.S.

The overall CUV segment is the hottest in the industry, and Ward's Middle CUV segment displaced Upper-Middle cars as the largest single segment in 2010.

So forgive us for sounding jaded, but turn a corner these days and another CUV pops out of traffic. It's high time for a segment buster, but instead we get another likeable but low-risk effort with the Outlander Sport.

Mitsubishi could use a hit. Through December, the auto maker sold a scant 55,683 vehicles, up 3.1% from 53,986 in 2009. Amazingly, the company sold more cars and trucks in 1984.

Our biggest beef lies with the Outlander Sport's sole engine choice, a wimpy and uncivilized 2.0L 4-cyl. that leaves Mitsubishi looking miserly.

A world engine from Mitsubishi's former alliance with Chrysler and Hyundai, it's sophisticated enough with its aluminum block and cylinder head, advanced electronic valve control timing and friction-reducing components.

As a result, the Outlander Sport posts some awfully good fuel-economy numbers of up to 31 mpg (7.6 L/100 km) highway. We average about 27 mpg (8.7 L/100 km) along rural country roads.

But the fuel efficiency comes at the expense of power, as the 2.0L engine's measly 142 hp works overtime to propel the relatively light CUV down the road. Passing slower cars proves dicey at times, and we quickly learn to aggressively down shift our 5-speed manual before swinging out into another lane.

With each downshift comes a howl of disapproval from the engine bay, almost enough to scare us off the throttle. Shifting the 5-speed manual is akin to rowing in buttermilk.

Mitsubishi would be smart to add a turbocharged option and some sound damping. Americans are starting to embrace small, turbocharged engines and quiet cabins always will sell well.

Inside, the Outlander Sport gets a heavy dose of plastic, although chrome- and nickel-like accents break things up.

As with those compact cars of old, there are too many hard surfaces biting back at your elbows, and the fabric seats, which sport three different textures for a unique look, are not the most comfortable.

Interior fit-and-finish generally is good on our tester, except for an oversized gap where the doors meet the dash, and the rear cargo area already shows signs of wear.

Rear-cargo room proves more than sufficient for three people on a day trip to the beach. Choosing the top-of-the-line Rockford Fosgate audio system sacrifices some cargo space to accommodate a 10-in. (25.4-cm) subwoofer.

Mitsubishi thoughtfully adds an adjustable center head rest for the second row, making the CUV a true 5-passenger vehicle. It's a roomy second row, accommodating a 6-ft., 3-in. (191 cm) colleague without pinning the driver against the dash.

Our tester is a base model. Moving up to an SE trim provides option packages that include a panoramic roof, push-button start, magnesium-alloy paddle shifters and an eco-driving gauge on models with the continuously variable transmission.

The options add up quickly, pushing an otherwise inexpensive CUV to nearly $27,000 fully loaded. However, the high-intensity discharge headlamps come standard on all models, as do regenerative brakes, a high-efficiency alternator and fuel-saving electric power steering.

We find the EPS system to be one of the Outlander Sports' greatest attributes, with solid on-center feel and the right amount of feedback. It responds quickly to driver inputs without feeling too light.

The CUV should benefit from arguably the best-looking exterior in a segment of weak and dated competitors.

The front-end design is particularly attractive, drawing on the jet-inspired fascia of the Evo. There's an attention to detail in the styling, as well, such as contoured rocker panels for easier ingress and egress. Still, it's difficult to call the exterior design daring.

Coupled with a cheap powertrain, Mitsubishi plays it too safe with the Outlander Sport, and that's unfortunate because we want to like this one.